Dentifrice Dispenser and Oral Care System Comprising the Same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a dentifrice dispenser, comprising: a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an orifice through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber; and a permanent magnet connected to the container for retaining an oral care implement with the container. Also disclosed is an oral care system, comprising: a dentifrice dispenser according to any preceding claim; and an oral care implement; wherein the oral care implement comprises a second magnet or a metal portion that is magnetically attractable to the permanent magnet.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a dentifrice dispenser and to an oralcare system comprising the dentifrice dispenser and an oral careimplement.

It is known to provide dentifrice, such as toothpaste, in a tube havingan opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable. However, inorder to dispense the dentifrice from the tube onto the head of an oralcare implement, such as a toothbrush, a user has to squeeze the tubewhile at the same time aligning the head of the oral care implement withthe opening of the tube. Carrying out these two processes simultaneouslycan be difficult or impossible for some users, such as children,individuals with disabilities, and others who are challenged by lowstrength, coordination or motor control in the fingers, hands or arms.

There is a need for a dentifrice dispenser that helps a user dispensedentifrice onto the head of an oral care implement. There is a need foran oral care system that helps a user dispense dentifrice onto the headof an oral care implement of the oral care system.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention provides a dentifrice dispenser,comprising: a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice andhaving an orifice through which the dentifrice is dispensable from thechamber; and a permanent magnet connected to the container for retainingan oral care implement with the container.

Optionally, the permanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially or fullyembedded in, the container. Optionally, the permanent magnet is mountedon the container. Optionally, the permanent magnet is partially embeddedin the container. Optionally, the permanent magnet is fully embedded inthe container. Preferably, the permanent magnet is non-detachablyconnected to the container.

Optionally, the permanent magnet is partially or fully embedded betweencomponents of the container. Alternatively, the permanent magnet may bepartially or fully embedded in material of one component of thecontainer.

Optionally, the container comprises a vessel defining the chamber, and acap device connected to the vessel and defining the orifice, wherein thepermanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in,the cap device.

Optionally, the cap device comprises a base defining the orifice and aclosure movable relative to the base between a closed position, at whichthe closure isolates the orifice from an exterior of the dispenser, andan open position, at which the orifice is in fluid communication withthe exterior of the dispenser.

Optionally, the cap device comprises an arm, and wherein the permanentmagnet is mounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the arm.Further optionally, the arm extends from the base. Still furtheroptionally, the base is unitary with the arm.

Optionally, the container comprises an arm, and the permanent magnet ismounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the arm.

Optionally, the arm is elongate in a direction extending away from thevessel.

Optionally, the arm is elongate in a direction parallel to alongitudinal axis of the container.

Optionally, the permanent magnet is at a distal end of the arm.

Optionally, the cap device is formed from a plastic. Further optionally,the plastic is a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene orpolyethylene terephthalate.

Optionally, the permanent magnet comprises ferromagnetic material.Further optionally, the ferromagnetic material comprises one or more ofiron, nickel, cobalt, lodestone, a compound of rare earth elements, analloy of rare earth elements, an alloy of iron, an alloy of nickel, andan alloy of cobalt.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an oral caresystem, comprising: any of the dentifrice dispensers described above;and an oral care implement; wherein the oral care implement comprises asecond magnet or a metal portion that is magnetically attractable to thepermanent magnet.

Optionally, the oral care implement comprises a handle and a head.Further optionally, the second magnet or the metal portion ismagnetically attractable to the permanent magnet to bring the oral careimplement into contact with the dentifrice dispenser with the headaligned or alignable with the orifice. Optionally, the second magnet orthe metal portion is comprised in the head.

Optionally, the oral care implement is a toothbrush.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dentifrice dispenser according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a closure of acap device of the dentifrice dispenser at a closed position relative toa base of the cap device;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an oral care system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, the oral care systemcomprising the dentifrice dispenser of FIG. 1 and a toothbrush, whereinthe closure of the dentifrice dispenser is at an open position relativeto the base of the cap device, and the toothbrush is connected to thecontainer of the dentifrice dispenser;

FIG. 3 shows a partial close-up perspective view of the oral care systemof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a dentifrice dispenser according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a closure ofa cap device of the dentifrice dispenser at a closed position relativeto a base of the cap device; and

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view through the dentifrice dispenser ofFIG. 4, with the closure of the dentifrice dispenser at an open positionrelative to the base of the cap device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each andevery value that is within the range. Any value within the range can beselected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references citedherein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In theevent of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and thatof a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

FIG. 1 shows a dentifrice dispenser 1 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. The dentifrice dispenser 1comprises a container 10 and a permanent magnet 20 that isnon-detachably connected to the container 10. Each of the container 10and the permanent magnet 20 will be described in turn.

The container 10 comprises a flexible vessel 11, which vessel 11comprises a sealed first end 12 and an elongate annular wall 13extending from the sealed end 12 and defining a chamber 14 therein.Within the chamber 14 there is stored a dentifrice (not shown). At anopposite longitudinal second end 15 of the wall 13 from the first end12, the vessel 11 has an opening (not shown) through which thedentifrice is dispensable from the chamber 14. The container 10 alsocomprises a cap device 16 connected to the vessel 11 at the longitudinalsecond end 15 of the wall 13. The cap device 16 is of greater rigidityor hardness than the vessel 11 and defines an orifice 17 (see FIG. 2) influid communication with the opening of the vessel 11, through whichorifice 17 the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber 14 and fromthe container 10 as a whole. The cap device 16 comprises a base 18,which defines the orifice 17, and a closure 19, which is connected tothe base 18 by a hinge and is movable relative to the base 18 by bendingthe hinge. The closure 19 is rotatable relative to the base 18 between aclosed position (see FIG. 1), at which the closure 19 isolates theorifice 17 from an exterior of the dispenser 1, and an open position(see FIGS. 2 and 3), at which the orifice 17 is in fluid communicationwith the exterior of the dispenser 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cap device 16 is a unitary component.That is, the base 18 is unitary with the closure 19. In other words, thebase 18 is integrally formed with the closure 19. In the illustratedembodiment, the hinge is a living hinge. In variations to theillustrated embodiment, the base 18 and the closure 19 are separatecomponents connected together by a non-living hinge.

The cap device 16, and each of the base 18 and the closure 19 of the capdevice 16, has a circular cross section. The container 10 has alongitudinal axis C-C that extends through the sealed end 12 of thevessel, perpendicularly to the respective circular cross sections of thecap device 16, base 18 and closure 19 (when at the closed position), andthrough the respective centre points of the respective circular crosssections of the cap device 16, base 18 and closure 19 (when at theclosed position).

The container 10, and more specifically the cap device 16, comprises anarm 21 extending from the base 18 in a direction substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis C-C of the container 10 and away from thevessel 11. The arm 21 is elongate in the direction in which the arm 21extends away from the base 18 and from the vessel 11. The arm 21 has aproximal end 23 connected directly to the base 18 and a longitudinallyopposed second distal end 22 distal from the base 18. The base 18 isunitary with the arm 21. That is, the base 18 is integrally formed withthe arm 21. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the arm 21 isunitary with (i.e. integrally formed with) the cap device 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cap device 16 and the arm 21 areformed from plastic, specifically a thermoplastic polymer. In theillustrated embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer is polypropylene, butin other embodiments the thermoplastic polymer may be polyethyleneterephthalate or another thermoplastic polymer.

The permanent magnet 20 is for connecting an oral care implement to thecontainer 10, thereby to attach the oral care implement to thedentifrice dispenser 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the permanentmagnet 20 is partially embedded in material of the arm 21 at the distalend 22 of the arm 21, so that a portion of the permanent magnet 20 isexposed at the distal end 22 of the arm 21. Thus, in the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the permanent magnet 20 is consideredpartially embedded in material of each of the container 10, the capdevice 16 and the arm 21. In variations to the illustrated embodiment,the permanent magnet 20 is adhered to the distal end 22 of the arm 21 soas to be mounted to the arm 21, or is fully embedded in the material ofthe arm 21 so that no portion of the permanent magnet 20 is exposed.Preferably, the connection of the permanent magnet 20 to the container10 is such that the permanent magnet 20 is retained in position relativeto the orifice 17.

In variations to the illustrated embodiment, the permanent magnet 20 maybe connected to the container 10 in some other way. For example, in someembodiments, the arm 21 is omitted and the permanent magnet 20 ismounted on, or partially or fully embedded in, material of a differentportion or component of the container 10, such as the cap device 16, thebase 18 or the vessel 11. In some embodiments, the permanent magnet 20is partially or fully embedded between components of the container 10,such as components that together define the cap device 16, the base 18or the vessel 11. In some such embodiments that include an arm 21, thepermanent magnet 20 is partially or fully embedded between componentsthat together define the arm 21.

The permanent magnet 20 comprises ferromagnetic material. In theillustrated embodiment, the ferromagnetic material comprises iron. Invariations to the illustrated embodiment, the ferromagnetic materialcomprises one or more of iron, nickel, cobalt, lodestone, a compound ofrare earth elements, an alloy of rare earth elements, an alloy of iron,an alloy of nickel, and an alloy of cobalt. The permanent magnet 20 isdistinguished from other types of magnet, such as an electromagnet.

The dentifrice dispenser 1 of the illustrated embodiment is usable withan oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, comprising a magnet or ametal portion that is magnetically attractable to the permanent magnet20. FIGS. 2 and 3 show an oral care system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the oral care system comprising thedentifrice dispenser of FIG. 1 and such an oral care implement in theform of a toothbrush 30.

The toothbrush 30 comprises a head 32, a handle 36, and a neck 34connecting the head 32 to the handle 36. The head 32 includes cleaningelements 33 in the form of bristles. The neck 34 is of smaller crosssectional area that the head 32 and the handle 36. In variations to theillustrated embodiment, the head 32 may be connected directly to thehandle 36 without a narrowed neck therebetween. A magnet 38 is comprisedin the head 32 of the toothbrush 30. In the illustrated embodiment, themagnet 38 is fully embedded in the head 32, but in other embodiments themagnet 38 may be partially embedded in the head 32 so that a portion ofthe magnet 38 is exposed, or may be mounted onto the head 32. In thisembodiment the magnet 38 is a permanent magnet.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the closure 19 of the cap device16 is in the open position relative to the base 18 of the cap device 16,the orifice 17 of the base 18 is in fluid communication with theexterior of the dispenser 1. The magnet 38 of the toothbrush 30 isintroducible to the dispenser 1 with the head 32 of the toothbrush 30approximately aligned with the orifice 17. The permanent magnet 20magnetically attracts the magnet 38 of the toothbrush 30 until thetoothbrush 30 is brought into contact with the dispenser 1 with the head32 aligned or alignable with the orifice 17. The magnets 20, 38 thencooperate to retain the head 32 of the toothbrush 30 at a fixed distancefrom the container 10. With the head 32 at this fixed distance from thecontainer 10, the user need make only small adjustments to the positionof the toothbrush 30 relative to the dispenser 1 (such as rotation ofthe toothbrush 30 or container 10 about its respective longitudinal axisrelative to the other of the toothbrush 30 and the container 10) inorder to align the head 32 with the orifice 17 with the cleaningelements 33 fully or substantially facing the orifice 17.

With the head 32 aligned with the orifice 17 with the cleaning elements33 fully or substantially facing the orifice 17, and with the permanentmagnet 20 attracting the magnet 38 to retain the toothbrush 30 incontact with the dispenser 1, the user can then focus on appropriatelysqueezing the vessel 11 in order to reduce the volume of the chamber 14,thereby to dispense some of the dentifrice from the chamber 14 throughthe opening of the vessel 11 and the orifice 17 onto the head 32 of thetoothbrush 30. Accordingly, the dispenser 1 helps a user dispensedentifrice onto the head of an oral care implement by assisting withpositioning of the head 32 relative to the dispenser 1. Once a desiredvolume of the dentifrice has been dispensed, the toothbrush 30 can bepulled away easily from the dispenser 1, against the attractive force ofthe permanent magnet 20, for use in an oral care session. The closure 19is then movable relative to the base 18 to the closed position.

In variations to the illustrated embodiment, the cap device 16 isomitted, and the container 10 may comprise just the vessel 11 and aone-piece, preferably rigid, closure for opening and closing the openingof the vessel 11. In such variations, the opening of the vessel 11 isthe orifice 17 of the container 10. Moreover, in such variations, thepermanent magnet 20 may be mounted on, or partially or fully embeddedin, the vessel 11.

Furthermore, in variations to the illustrated and/or describedembodiments, the toothbrush 30 may comprise a metal portion instead ofthe magnet 38, which metal portion is magnetically attractable to thepermanent magnet 20.

Furthermore, in variations to the illustrated and/or describedembodiments, the magnet 38 or metal portion of the toothbrush 30 may becomprised in one of the neck 34 and the handle 36 of the toothbrush 30,rather than in the head 32. In some such variations, the arm 21 of thecontainer 10 may be suitably configured so as to ensure that the head 32of the toothbrush 30 is aligned or alignable with the orifice 17, whenthe permanent magnet 20 has attracted the magnet 38 or metal componentof the toothbrush 30 to bring the toothbrush 30 into contact withdispenser 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a dentifrice dispenser 2 according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like reference numeralsused in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5 indicate like components.

The dentifrice dispenser 2 comprises a container 10 and a permanentmagnet 20 connected to the container 10. The container 10 of thisembodiment is the same as the container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, exceptthat the permanent magnet 20 is fully embedded in the material of thearm 21. Accordingly, no portion of the permanent magnet 20 is exposed.

The dispenser 2 may be varied as per the above-described possiblevariations to the dispenser 1 of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1to 3.

Similarly to the dentifrice dispenser 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3, the dentifricedispenser 2 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is usable with an oral care implement, suchas a toothbrush, e.g. the toothbrush 30 discussed above, comprising amagnet or a metal portion that is magnetically attractable to thepermanent magnet 20. An oral care system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention comprises the dentifrice dispenser 2of FIGS. 4 and 5 and such an oral care implement. The permanent magnet20 has sufficient strength to attract the magnet 38 or metal portion ofthe oral care implement, even though the permanent magnet 20 isdistanced from the oral care implement by some of the material of thearm 21.

The oral care system comprising the dentifrice dispenser 2 and an oralcare implement may be usable in the same manner as the above-describedoral care systems comprising the dentifrice dispenser 1 and an oral careimplement, or the described variations thereof. In the interests ofconciseness, detailed description of oral care systems comprising thedentifrice dispenser 2 and an oral care implement will not be provided.

Moreover, the oral care system comprising the dentifrice dispenser 2 andan oral care implement may be varied as per the above-described possiblevariations to the oral care system comprising the dentifrice dispenser 1and an oral care implement.

In variations to each of the illustrated embodiments, the container 10may take a different form to that illustrated, so long as the container10 defines a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an orifice throughwhich the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber.

1. A dentifrice dispenser, comprising: a container defining a chamberstoring a dentifrice and having an orifice through which the dentifriceis dispensable from the chamber; and a permanent magnet connected to thecontainer for retaining an oral care implement with the container. 2.The dentifrice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet ismounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the container.
 3. Thedentifrice dispenser of claim 2, wherein the permanent magnet ispartially or fully embedded between components of the container.
 4. Thedentifrice dispenser of claim 2, wherein the permanent magnet ispartially or fully embedded in material of one component of thecontainer.
 5. The dentifrice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the containercomprises a vessel defining the chamber, and a cap device connected tothe vessel and defining the orifice, wherein the permanent magnet ismounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the cap device.
 6. Thedentifrice dispenser of claim 5, wherein the cap device comprises a basedefining the orifice and a closure movable relative to the base betweena closed position, at which the closure isolates the orifice from anexterior of the dispenser, and an open position, at which the orifice isin fluid communication with the exterior of the dispenser.
 7. Thedentifrice dispenser of claim 6, wherein the cap device comprises anarm, and wherein the permanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially orfully embedded in, the arm.
 8. The dentifrice dispenser of claim 7,wherein the arm extends from the base.
 9. The dentifrice dispenser ofclaim 8, wherein the base is unitary with the arm.
 10. The dentifricedispenser of claim 1, wherein the container comprises an arm, andwherein the permanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially or fullyembedded in, the arm.
 11. The dentifrice dispenser of claim 7, whereinthe arm is elongate in a direction extending away from the vessel. 12.The dentifrice dispenser of claim 7, wherein the arm is elongate in adirection parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container.
 13. Thedentifrice dispenser of claim 7, wherein the permanent magnet is at adistal end of the arm.
 14. The dentifrice dispenser of claim 5, whereinthe cap device is formed from a plastic, such as a thermoplasticpolymer, such as polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate.
 15. Thedentifrice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet comprisesferromagnetic material, optionally wherein the ferromagnetic materialcomprises one or more of iron, nickel, cobalt, lodestone, a compound ofrare earth elements, an alloy of rare earth elements, an alloy of iron,an alloy of nickel, and an alloy of cobalt.
 16. An oral care system,comprising: a dentifrice dispenser according to any preceding claim; andan oral care implement; wherein the oral care implement comprises asecond magnet or a metal portion that is magnetically attractable to thepermanent magnet.
 17. The oral care system of claim 16, wherein the oralcare implement comprises a handle and a head, and wherein the secondmagnet or the metal portion is magnetically attractable to the permanentmagnet to bring the oral care implement into contact with the dentifricedispenser with the head aligned or alignable with the orifice.
 18. Theoral care system of claim 17, wherein the second magnet or the metalportion is comprised in the head.
 19. The oral care system of claim 16,wherein the oral care implement is a toothbrush.